Americans spend billions of dollars on healthcare annually, whether seeking primary care services or needing life-saving emergency treatment. This industry continues to face multiple challenges. Workers must deliver high-quality, equitable patient care while securing data and protecting sensitive information. Other challenges exist today, and healthcare organizations must find ways to overcome them for a better future for all.
Table of Contents
Staffing Shortages
Staffing shortages remain the most prominent challenge healthcare organizations face today. Countless professionals left the industry just as demand increased following the global pandemic. America’s population is aging, and older individuals typically have more chronic conditions. They need more intensive care, and healthcare professionals are required to provide it. Many organizations today seek help from CompHealth to fill staffing shortages and ensure the highest level of care for all who visit their facilities.
Cybersecurity
With the introduction of electronic health records, medical professionals collect overwhelming amounts of personally identifiable and protected health information. The volume of this data puts them at significant risk of ransomware attacks and other malicious threats. Every attack puts a healthcare organization at risk. Not only does this organization face financial consequences, but patient outcomes are also impacted. When a ransomware attack is directed at a hospital, patient care is disrupted, and the disruptions can last two or more weeks. Care must be sent to other facilities, which can lead to increased complications and higher mortality rates.
Telehealth
Telehealth visits increased in popularity during the global pandemic. However, as restrictions eased following the expiration of the public threat, many people have opted to return to traditional ways to receive medical care. The exception to this is behavioral health. The majority of telehealth visits today are for mental or behavioral health issues. Other specialties should follow suit and encourage patients to benefit from telehealth visits whenever possible, as doing so eases the burden on staff and allows patients to get the care they need promptly. The government must also ensure this option is available to all.
Clinical Workflows
As with any industry, healthcare organizations must compete for patients. Many struggle to do so today because of slow clinical workflows and provider shortages. These issues have led to unsatisfied patients. A person might need to wait a month or longer between calling for an appointment and seeing a medical professional. Sometimes, this is due to a lack of automation within the provider’s workplace. However, other issues are also at play.
Adopting electronic health records (EHRs) was supposed to simplify things for providers and patients. While these EHR systems have numerous benefits, long load times and information overload remain issues. Medical professionals and their staff may spend less time with patients and more time reviewing information on electronic devices, completing clinical notes, and documenting visits.
These are only some of the challenges the healthcare industry faces today. To overcome them, every organization must explore a range of options. They may need to physically change their facilities or update their technology. Innovative solutions, from self-scheduling options to digital check-in, will enhance the patient experience. Healthcare providers should also increase the level of care offered in the home through home visits and telehealth appointments.
Before doing so, healthcare organizations must ensure that the clinical staff experience is not harmed while working to enhance the patient experience. Healthcare workers are suffering from high levels of burnout. Finding the right balance between improving the patient experience and the experience with the clinical staff is essential for moving healthcare forward.